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Denver Broncos: Kansas City Chiefs games have been critical junctures

By Sayre Bedinger

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 31: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks away for a first quarter touchdown run against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 31, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 31: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks away for a first quarter touchdown run against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 31, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Brock Osweiler #17 hands the ball off to C.J. Anderson #22 of the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 15, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 29-13. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 15: Quarterback Brock Osweiler #17 hands the ball off to C.J. Anderson #22 of the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 15, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 29-13. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

2015: Both games (September 17, week 2 @ KC; November 15, week 10 @ DEN)

The second game of the 2015 season was as crazy of a game between the Broncos and Chiefs as you will ever see.

After the Broncos’ first game of the season against Baltimore, it looked like Peyton Manning had taken a step back physically, but the defense stepped up in a big way. Against the Chiefs on a short week in week two this season, the Broncos needed some heroics from both Manning and the defense to get the job done.

The Chiefs appeared to be heading to a 2-0 start before two lost fumbles from Jamaal Charles and another lost fumble from De’Anthony Thomas plagued Kansas City, who lost a fourth-quarter lead and then lost the game in overtime on a fumble recovered by Bradley Roby, returned for a touchdown.

This game sent the Chiefs into an early tailspin, and it continued to help set the tone for Denver.

On November 15, however, the Broncos were hanging on by a thread, and Kansas City went in for the knockout punch. For the first time since Peyton Manning had signed in Denver, the Chiefs got a victory over the Broncos and knocked Manning out of the game in the process.

The Chiefs were just 3-5, and the Broncos’ offense was being dragged along by arguably the best defense in NFL history. The defense couldn’t hold up in this one as Peyton Manning was visibly in pain, threw 20 passes, completed five, and threw four interceptions.

If he wasn’t injured, he probably should have been pulled. This opened the door for Brock Osweiler to get his first meaningful regular season action for the Broncos and Denver went on to win three straight games before a dud against the Raiders and a tough loss to Pittsburgh. The loss against Pittsburgh would be their last of the season, and they went on to get the number one seed in the AFC, beating the Bengals, Chargers, Steelers, Patriots, and Panthers en route to a Super Bowl title.

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